A Bermudian student hopes the lessons he is learning studying abroad will mean a more sustainable future for the island when he arrives back home.

Harry Masters, 26, who is a member of the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce management team, said he has been able to pursue this career path with the backing of friends, family, and others.

“It has been a year of significant growth and tremendous opportunity,” Mr Masters said. “I am thankful for all the support given to me by my friends and family back at home in Bermuda, as well as the Bank of Bermuda Foundation for helping make this opportunity possible.”

Mr Masters is pursuing a dual Masters of Business Administration and Environment Management between the University of North Carolina and Duke University. He is set to graduate next year.

“Last year I focused entirely on the MEM programme, concentrating in Energy and the Environment,” he said. “I plugged many of the gaps that I had regarding technical aspects of the energy industry.”

After graduating from the University of North Carolina with a BA in Environmental Studies and Public Policy in 2012, he returned to Bermuda and worked for a year in the Cabinet Office Intern Programme focusing on sustainable development.

He also worked for Solar Bermuda Ltd and supported BEST.

“I plan on leveraging my MBA to help organisations navigate some of the biggest natural resource challenges of today, focusing primarily on energy and clean tech.

“With this goal in mind I am currently pursuing consulting as well as niche finance opportunities in this space.” Mr Masters said of his home country: “It’s a tremendously beautiful place, with immense natural beauty.

“I became really interested in the topic of sustainability, because I think it’s really important for an island as small as Bermuda, and a community as small as Bermuda, to live in a sustainable manner.”

He said he envisions the nation as a “potential centrepiece for sustainability,” both in terms of energy and food production.

“I think Bermuda can really pioneer and help prove a lot these technologies and be a showcase for other places around the world.”

BEST chairman Stuart Hayward praised Mr Masters’s efforts.

“Harry is following in the footsteps of several of young people who have worked with BEST,” he said.

“Harry’s interest and familiarity with energy production and its impact on environmental health helped put BEST on a solid foundation when analysing and commenting on energy issues.

“We have missed his intellect and look forward to his return. Meanwhile we are proud of his accomplishments — almost as proud as his parents.”